The 4th annual Denver Uke Fest is coming up. We have been around and helping out since the 1st. Thanks to Swallow Hill for always putting on a great event. This year we are going to two nights at the L2 center!

Monday, November 15, 2010

After the show the other night in Delores, I got talking with a guy about my banjo ukes. It turns it his name was Bobby and he builds San Juan Mandolins. I have known about him for a long time and I was glad to get to meet him. Instead of staying at the hotel, I went back to his shop to check out what he is working on, listen to Leadbelly records and play some tunes in his kitchen. Here are some pics:

First, here is a new mandolin in progress for Drew Emmitt. Notice the one piece maple back and awesome sunburst. Up close and personal, you can see Bobby's careful scroll carving. You may have read in the last Fretboard Journal about Drew selling his Nugget mandolin to Jeff Austin. Well, he sold it so he could order this one!

Here is a spruce top and maple back being joined for an "A" style mandola. And lastly, here is the scroll of Bobby's personal mandolin. Great inlay and peep the awesome engraved Waverly tuners!

For about six months now I have been sponsored by Curt Mangan strings. They are a small company in southwest Colorado and make all sorts of guitar, etc... strings.

We played in Delores, CO at the Brewery last weekend and they came out to see the show and deliver a batch of strings for me. Since I was going back and forth on what strings to put on my guitars, Curt brought me several custom sets to try! How cool!